ECE R44/04 and i-Size (UN R129) approval labels

ECE R44/04 and i-Size (UN R129) approval labels

Every child car seat in Europe has an orange ECE R44 approval label. The orange label guarantees that the car seat complies with the basic safety requirements as set out in the European safety standard ECE R44.

It’s a good starting point when looking for a child car seat. However, how much protection is offered and how easy a child car seat is to use, can vary significantly between orange labeled seats, so make sure you try and test a seat before you buy! It may be useful to consult the latest European safety test which is conducted on a yearly basis to come to the best choice of seat for your child and you.

Since the introduction of the European child car safety standard ECE R44 in 1982, child car seats are tested on an annual basis. The requirements are upgraded every year to reflect the changing needs in child safety. With test standards becoming stricter every year, it is more difficult for car seats to get the best test ratings. All Maxi-Cosi car seats proudly meet and exceed the European test standard for child restraints ECE R44 /04.

Warning: from April 2008, all child car seats that were manufactured before 1995 and approved to the ECE R44/01 and 44/02 standard are no longer legal and must not be used or sold. Only seats displaying the European Standard orange label, indicating approval to the Standard to ECE R44/03 and ECE R 44/04 may be legally used.

What does the approval label tell me about my seat?

Your seat meets the European Safety Standard. Note the last two digits: these should end in 04 (latest version) or 03. R44-01 or 02 are not legal
and may not be sold or used since 2008.

There are 3 types of car seat approval: universal, semi-universal and vehicle specific. ‘Universal’ means your seat is approved for installation
in all cars, although you should check that the seat fits really well in your car. See below article on ‘Type Labelling’.

Approval for weight (group). If a letter Y is added here, it means that the child seat features a 5-point harness system with crotch strap.

European approval indicator.

Indicates the country in which the approval was obtained: 1=Germany 2=France 3=Italy 4=the Netherlands etc.

Approval number. The first two numbers (04) show to which version the child seat has been approved, in this case ECE R 44/04.

Unique number allocated to your specific seat, for testing and tracking.

Production details: week and year, in this case week 7, 2006.

Manufacturer article reference number

EAN code

BAR code

Name of product manufacturer

Type labelling: (semi-) universal or vehicle specific

To determine if a child car seat fits your car, there are 3 types of car seat approvals: universal, semi-universal and vehicle specific. Universal approval isn’t vehicle specific and the seat is approved and is suitable for installation in all cars. An approval label will indicate one of these categories.

Universal approval
The seat is approved for use in all vehicles that meet ECE R14 and R16 regulations. Any Isofix car seat must use the Isofix anchorage points including the top tether or foot support. In all Isofix cases this solution must be used and the vehicle’s handbook must state that the car is suitable for “Universal Isofix child seats”.

Semi-universal approval Semi-universal approval is when, in addition to the standard requirements, other safety devices for attaching a seat are used and require additional testing. For example: some vehicles provide additional storage space within or beneath the floor area that can influence the behavior of a child seat foot support, therefore you need to check the child seat manufacturer’s car fitting list. if your car type and model is listed as suitable for use.

Vehicle specific approval The child seat is tested in an additional car-specific dynamic crash test and approved only for these cars. The car must be listed in the child seat manufacturer’s car fitting list. This may include special features or designs that can only be installed in a car of a specific type.

Orange i-Size (UN R129) label

i-Size (or UN R129) approved car seats can be recognized on the approval label by the “i-Size” indication. Additionally, one can easily find the appropriate length classification of the car seat on the label. The remainder of the approval label looks alike the ECE R44 label.

When originally introduced in 1971, the FMVSS 213 safety standard did not include dynamic testing of child car seats. It simply specified that a seat belt should hold the child in place in the car. It did not include rearfacing car seats either. In 1981, the FMVSS 213 was amended to include dynamic tests of all car seats for children under 50 pounds, establishing the basic elements of the standard used in the US today. It included rearfacing restraints, car beds, 30 mph crash tests and buckle release force (so a child cannot release the harness) en special labelling and instruction criteria.